Jopson sizzles in Ford Ironman

CEBU, Philippines - From being the fastest Pinoy in Ironman Philippines a few years ago, adopted Cebuano Noy Jopson emerged as the best among the Filipino finishers in the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii the other day.

Out of the 1, 918 participants around the world, the 36 year-old Jopson ranked 763 overall and 158th of 240 entries under the men’s 35-39 division.

   Jopson was the second Pinoy to come out of the waters behind Quezon City's Ferdinand Louis Catabian II, who finished the 2.4-mile swim course in one hour, two minutes and 13 seconds. Jopson clocked in 1:02:18.

After dealing the ocean waves, Jopson left behind fellow Pinoys in the next two disciplines, the bike and run under a lava-covered terrain.

The first Ironman Philippines all-Filipino champion Jopson completed the 112-mile bike course in 5:26:13 and the 26.2-mile run in 3:57:15.

Jopson finished the world’s toughest three-in-one sporting battle in 10:32:35.

In the overall rankings, Jopson placed 340th in the swim, 687th in the bike and 684th in the run category.

On the other hand, Catabian wound up 1,152nd overall and 138th under the men’s 30-34 class with an 11:22:51 clocking.

Alaska Milk Corporation president Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, the man behind the Ironman Philippines, also joined the action and finished 1,461st overall and 107th in the men’s 50-54 division with the time of 12:43:58.

Naga City’s Benjamin Rana Jr. came out the second best Pinoy with a 10:53:46 clocking, good for 78th in the 25-29 class and 941st overall.  (FREEMAN)